Page 17 of Scythe’s Salvation (Imperial Knights MC: Roanoke, VA #2)

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

Tamara

Without hesitation, I take his hand and he helps me up then we walk toward the front door.

Part of me hates that our date is ending, because I’ve enjoyed being with him tonight.

Actually, I’ve loved it, and outside of the times I’m with Amara or her family, this has been one of the best days ever.

Shyness overcomes me slightly as we finally make it to his bike.

He pulls me into his arms, something that immediately makes me feel a hundred times safer and leans down to whisper, “Think we could finish our date off with a kiss?”

My heart is now pounding as I merely nod. It’s been a few years since I’ve kissed anyone, but I instinctively know that it’s going to irrevocably change me. That’s how different Scythe is in the big scheme of things. “I’d like that,” I murmur, my face raised to look at him.

He’s such a handsome man; while he’s muscular, it’s a combination of hard work and gym time based on his hands.

His closely cut beard looks so soft, and my traitorous body wants to know how it would feel grazing against my inner thighs.

But it’s more than his looks. He carries himself with such assurance and confidence, without being cocky.

He has a way about him and the fact that he and my son are slowly bonding doesn’t hurt either!

When he leans down a bit further, since he’s about six or seven inches taller than me, a little shiver courses through me in anticipation.

As one hand cups my jaw, the other bands around me, pulling me closer while his lips descend.

The kiss is soft at first, but not tentative.

No, there’s nothing unsure about what he’s doing at all.

It’s more exploratory, and I decide to let him lead while I follow.

The kiss deepens, and I hear a rumble come from his chest as I lightly moan.

Hell, if just a chaste kiss feels this way…

yeah, I need to turn off that way of thinking right now!

His tongue swipes across my lower lip and I gasp, allowing him entry, which is slow and exploratory, as though we’ve got all the time in the world.

Time seems to stop as we learn each other’s mouths.

His touch elicits responses in my body that have laid dormant for a very long time, and I realize that my BOB will be getting a workout.

Yet, despite how carnal our kiss is, he doesn’t do anything else, although his fingers lightly stroke my cheek.

I had no idea my face was an erogenous zone, that’s for sure, but right now, with this simple embrace, I’m ready to toss my clothes aside and beg him to fuck me.

Finally, reluctantly, he pulls back, kissing me lightly several times, before his lips touch my forehead.

I’m a sucker for movies where the male character kisses the woman he’s seeing there and I don’t know why because in the scheme of things, it feels far more intimate than the tongue dueling we just did, or anything sexual.

Needless to say, I’m pretty much goo in his hands at this point.

“Had a good time tonight, Tam,” he huskily tells me. I can feel his hardness against my abdomen and belly, which affirms his statement. “Can’t wait until later this week. We’ll have two days to spend together around my family, where we can get to know each other better.”

“I’m looking forward to it too, Scythe,” I confess. “I want to meet your chosen family and the fact that there will be kids around Chance’s age is definitely a bonus.”

“It’s all part of my plan,” he replies.

“What plan?”

“To make you fall so deeply in love with me that you’ll say you’ll be mine forever. I figure if you meet the crazy relatives and survive without running away screaming, I’m one step closer to that goal,” he says, smirking at me.

Since I’m merrily trotting down that road already, I just nod. “Not much scares me, Scythe,” I warn. “As a boy mom I’ve been exposed to worse, trust me!”

He chuckles and kisses me again before saying, “Go on inside, Tam, and lock up. I’ll wait to leave until you’re safely inside."

“Good night, Scythe. Thanks for tonight.”

“My pleasure, beautiful.”

I walk back up the pathway, my feet feeling as though they’re floating above the ground.

Once I’m inside with the doors locked, I hear his bike start up and roar away.

Before I head to my room for the night so I can get some relief, I do a ‘refresh’ of the living room and kitchen.

It’s something I read somewhere that when you take fifteen or so minutes at night to reset your living space, it makes it easier to keep things straight.

Since we’re always so busy, I do it while I run through the next day’s schedule.

After I’m done, I take a long, very satisfying shower then drift off to sleep with thoughts of a future with Scythe by my side in my dreams.

The past three days have been busy as hell between school, practices, and my clients, but today’s the day for Roxy’s family’s adoption and party.

As I put the finishing touches on a seven-layer dip I made, I hear Chance clambering down the hallway.

When I look up, I burst out laughing. He’s got his swim goggles up on his head and his arms are loaded down with his fishing gear and tackle box, as well as a baseball glove and a football.

“Chance, buddy, what on earth?” I question, still giggling.

“Scythe said there would be other kids there and I don’t know what they like, Mommy,” he says. “So, I thought I’d bring everything with me!”

I shake my head at his thoughts. “I’m sure they’ll have things there to do,” I reply. “But we can take it with us in case you need anything.”

He grins and heads out to the garage, muttering, “I hope we get to fish today and that they have chicken livers!”

Still giggling, I pack the dip up in a carrying case, then check the small cooler that’s got kid-friendly drinks.

I’m positive they’ll have all of those things, but I was taught by Memaw not to show up somewhere empty handed.

Once I have that in the back of my SUV, I go back inside to grab the gift bags for the kids, as well as my purse and keys.

I reached out to Roxy and got some ideas for her two children, even though she said presents weren’t necessary.

Since they’re being officially adopted, I wanted to get them something to commemorate the occasion, grateful that Amara was up to do a little shopping the other night after work.

I haven’t talked to Scythe much because he’s been just as busy trying to get his clients taken care of so he can take off for a few days, but we’ve gotten great at texting each other.

Sometimes, I find a meme or reel to send him, while other times, he asks how my day is going.

One day, he sent over lunch to me, which earned him a quick phone call as I stuffed my face full of the Chipotle bowl he got me.

He’s slowly worming his way into my heart, that’s for damn sure, and the best thing is, he’s doing it at a pace that I’m comfortable with, especially since it’s not just me in this; it’s my son as well.

He already looks up to Scythe with something like hero worship, and I suspect once he meets Scythe’s brothers, he’s going to add a few more men to that list.

Which doesn’t bother me. I want my son to have good male role models.

Regardless of what Tim’s done since he left, I don’t envision him being that for my boy, so I’m glad that Scythe seems to be unique.

“Come on, Mommy, hurry up! The fish are probably biting already,” Chance exclaims, already in his booster seat and safely buckled in.

“Just getting the last few things,” I reply as I finish loading up my car. “Okay, are we ready?” I ask once I’m in the driver’s seat and also buckled.

“Ready, Freddy,” he says, giggling.

As we head toward the clubhouse, I send up a silent prayer that he always has laughter in his life.

I also ask that whoever the judge we get for the custody hearing is fair, and that they have a heart for moms who’ve been doing it on their own.

Although… there’s a tiny voice that says I should accept any monetary help that’s given, especially if back allotment is considered.

There’s so much I could do with that money, including fencing in my backyard so that I can see about getting Chance a puppy to grow up with him.

The trip doesn’t take long at all and soon, I’m being waved through the gates by a man that Scythe says is a prospect for the club.

While I don’t know all the terminology, I’ll learn, I’m sure.

I look at where he pointed and see other cars, so I pull into a spot and shut my SUV down.

Chance quickly unbuckles, saying, “Hurry, Mommy!”

As I exit the driver’s side, I laugh and reply, “Gonna need your help to carry all of this.”

“No, you don’t,” Scythe says, having come out to greet us.

“Prospect!” he yells, and I see another man, who looks like the one who let me in, come running over from where he was filling giant aluminum bathtubs with ice while another guy was putting sodas inside.

When he reaches us, Scythe points to the back of my car, which is already open, and says, “Take care of whatever she’s brought. ”

“Yes, sir,” the kid replies as Chance starts dragging out his fishing stuff, as well as the sporting gear.

“Look what I brought, Scythe!” Chance says, grinning up at him.

“Seems like you’re ready to fish, huh?” Scythe asks, chuckling.

“You said some people were going to do that, so I brought my stuff,” he replies.

“Well, how about we walk your mom around back so I can introduce her to some of the other women, then I’ll take you down to where RiffRaff and the guys are so we can fish for a little while. How does that sound?” Scythe questions, taking my hand in his and lacing our fingers together.

My son nods and follows us around to the back where the noise level is extremely high.

Little ones are in a bounce house, with another prospect keeping watch.

Canopied tents are set up and some have tables arranged underneath, laden with food, while others have chairs and playpens, which is where Scythe takes me.

“Ladies, this is Tamara. Tamara, I’m not even gonna try to tell you all their names.

Y’all be nice to her, I’m trying to convince her to stick with me,” he says, which has every woman laughing.

“Hey, Tamara,” Roxy says, walking up to me and throwing her arms around me in a hug. “Let her go, Scythe, we’ve got it from here.”

“If you need me, sweetheart, just text me and I’ll extract you,” he says, leaning down and kissing me.

“Okay, but I think I’ll be just fine. I’ve met Ryleigh, Rory, Jilly, and Moira already, remember?” I reply.

“Yeah, but now there’s Roxy, Selah, Harper, and Laney in the mix,” he retorts before taking off to find Chance, who’s currently surrounded by another little boy who appears to be close to his age.

“Come on, Tamara, we’ve got mimosas for those of us who can drink, and water for those who can’t,” Roxy states, leading me over to an empty chair. “What’s your preference?”

Since it’s still a bit early, but I know we’re in a safe environment, I reply, “A mimosa to start.”

“Oh, I think we’re gonna get along just fine,” a familiar voice states, walking up to me. “Hey, I’m Selah, glad to officially meet you.”

I nod then reply, “Same. Thanks for the save the other day.”

“Girl, we’ve got your back,” she says. “Okay, now, we’re going to need all the details as to how you managed to capture Scythe’s eye. He’s a loner from what I’ve heard.”

And that starts the first of two wonderful days with Scythe’s family.

I don’t think I’ve ever laughed harder, eaten so much, or drank so much in my life.

Hell, we never went home; Scythe put us in one of the rooms in the clubhouse, which thrilled Chance to pieces as he and his new ‘best friend’ Callum quickly became thick as thieves.

Roxy and Weston’s adoption went off without a hitch and I met the judge who signed the paperwork.

Hopefully, he’s who hears my court case, because he’s obviously all about the kids’ best interest and at the end of the day, that’s what I want for my boy.